Fold-closed reversible cover for pillows, mattresses or the like



July 21, 1959 R. LESTER FOLD-CLOSED REVERSIBLE COVER FOR PILLOWS, MATTRESSES OR THE LIKE Filed Aug. 14, 1956 wl xv o/e: E 77/ 2/7/7 155742? U ted States Patent 07 FOLD-CLOSED REVERSIBLE COVER FOR PILLOWS, MATTRESSES OR THE LIKE Ruth Lester, Nashville, Tenn.

Application. August 14, 1956, Serial No. 604,020

' -6-Claims. (Cl. -339) Thisinvention relates'to a.fold-closed reversible cover for pillows, mattresses or 'the like.

More particularlythe invention pertains to a fastenerfree cover for pillows, cushions, pads, mattresses, etc., comprising: a pair of flexible panels of cloth, sheetplastic, etc., joined to each other along three sides by sewed seams (or other conventional means) with or without a box strip or portion between their edges, the open end or side having relatively wide exteriorly and reversely turned cuff-like closure panels joined (sewed) at their lateral margins to or into the ends of the U-shaped panelconnecting seam, said closure panels when positioned on opposite sides of the cover permitting insertion of a pillow, pad, mattress, etc., into the cover, either of said closure panels being foldable over the opening in said cover to overlie the other closure panel, whereby by reversing the position of said closure panel from one side to the other of said cover the cover and object enclosed therein become reversible, thus doubling the durability and the between-laundering period of use of the cover by permitting both sides thereof to be turned upwardly into use position.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a self-closing reversible cover for pillows, mattresses or the like, which is of simple, economical construction, and which will permit both face panels of the cover to be placed into upwardly facing use position, thereby eifectively doubling the between-laundering periods of use of the cover and thereby greatly extending the usable life of the cover.

It is another object to provide a self-closing cover of this type, which is free of expensive and bothersome ties, snaps, zippers, buttons or like fasteners.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following detailed de scription thereof proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the cover showing a pad or like object partially inserted thereinto.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the closed cover of Fig. 1, with the normally bottom panel facing forwardly.

Fig. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary schematic plan view of the cover, in section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged schematic plan view, in section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary schematic plan view of the closed cover of Fig. 2, in section taken on the line S5 of Fig. 2.

With reference now to the drawings, the numeral 11 generally designates a reversible cover according to the present invention. Cover 11 comprises a pair of panels 13 and 14 either of which may be presented upwardly to thereby double both the durability of the cover and its periods of use between launderings (as compared with conventional fold-closed covers, only one side of which 2,895,146 Patented July 21, 1959 are conveniently usable). For ease in describing the invention the panels 13 and 14 will be referred to, respec tively, as the far and near panels. The main portions of the panels 13 and 14 are joined around a major portion of their peripheries (i.e., three sides) by the simple seams generally designated 15 and 16' (Fig. 4), and 'by a seam 17 (not shown) at the lower end of the cover of Figs. 1 and 2, which seam 17 will have a construction similar to scam 15. (Where tubular materials aroused the same results can be achieved by utilizing-only a French-fell seam to close one cover 'end and two single rows of stitching to permanently fix the ends of the closure flaps or panels to the margins of the cover adjacent the opening) Seam 16 serves two functions,,name- -ly, that of improving the appearance of the cover and also that of forming a basis for the fabrication of the panels 19 and 20 are joined attheir ends to the extrenii ties of the U-shaped seam that joins the far and near panels 13 and 14. The left one of the composite seams for joining the cover panel and closure flaps, is generally designated 21 (Figs. 3 and 5), while the right seam is generally designated 22. Scam 21 includes the inwardly looped extension 13 of the far panel 13, and the similarly inwardly looped extensions 14, 19', 20, of the panels 14 and flaps 19 and 20, all folded and positioned as shown at 2.1 and stitched together (with the casing turned wrong-side out for the stitching operation) by the stitches schematically represented by the broken lines 23. It should be noted that if panels 13 and 14 are formed of separate superimposed pieces of material, instead of a folded piece as herein disclosed, the seams 16 and 22 would be of the same construction as seams 15 and 21, respectively. Edges 19' and 20' are non-fraying selvages.

The more simple right seam of Figs. 3 and 5 comprises the inwardly looped extension of the single piece of cloth forming the far and near cover panels 13 and 14 and herein indicated as an indentation 25, and the inturned nesting indentation 26 of the extensions of the piece of cloth forming downturned flaps 19 and 20, and herein indicated as being the seam portion 22, which are folded as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and are stitched together by the schematically represented stitching 27.

While the pad P of Figs. 1 and 2 is shown as having squared edges, as is best illustrated by the squared crosssections of the fragmentary showings of Figs. 3 thru 5, it is obvious that the pad P or a pillow or other object enclosed in cover 11 may have rounded edges of long or short radius as desired, or if preferred the edges of the cover may be boxed in known conventional manner.

Figs. 1, 3 and 4 show the cover with the flaps in the positions that permit insertion or withdrawal of the pad P (or other object being covered thereby). Figs. 2 and 5 illustrate the relative positions of the closure flaps or panels in one of the two positions thereof. In the Figs. 2 and 5 positions of the closure panels, the face panel 13 of the cover will be presented upwardly for use. When the panel 13 becomes soiled, the two flaps or closure panels 19 and 20 are pulled upwardly over the end of the cover 11 and swung onto the opposite side thereof so as to overlie the upper edge of panel 13 in a manner similar to their overlying panel 14 in Figs. 2 and 5. This then presents a clean panel 14 which may be placed in upwardly facing position to thereby approximately double the period of use of the cover. The useful life of the cover is similarly greatly extended.

While I have disclosed certain preferred embodiments. of my invention, it is to be understood that many changes. can be made in the size, shape, composition and arrange ment of the parts without departing from the spirit of the. invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cover for pillows, pads, mattresses or the like, comprising: a pair of flexible panels joined for a major portion of their extent but open along at least a major portion of one edge thereof to provide an opening for insertion and removal of the object being cove-red thereby, the edges of said opening being defined by outwardly and reversely turned cuif like extensions of said panels fas tened at their lateral edges to the adjacent joined edges of said panels, said panel extensions being selectively turnable to either side of said cover to close said opening and to provide overlap-free covering for the other side of said object, or to opposite sides thereof to uncover said opening for insertion or removal of said covered object, whereby said cover is reversible to approximately double its period of use between launderings and to similarly greatly increase its durability.

2. A cover according to claim 1, said cuff-like extensions being relatively deep for secure retention of the covered object.

3. A cover according to claim 2, said depth being of the order of half the width thereof.

4. A cover according to claim 1, said cuff-like extensions having depths at least half their widths.

5. A cover according to claim 1, said cover being formed of woven fabric having selvages defining the edges of said cuff-like extensions.

6. A cover according to claim 1, said panels being joined by a seam extending at least across the junction therebetween opposite said opening, and said extensions being fastened at their lateral edges to the adjacent margins of said panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 880,524 Hauphofi Mar. 3, 1908 1,854,023 Ehni Apr. 12, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,828 Great Britain Nov. 7, 1910 342,991 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1931 443,947 Great Britain Mar. 10, 1936 

